STRAFFORD — After celebrating with friends and family, Jason DiVirgilio returned to his house at 25 Fire Rd. 5 Christmas night to find his home filled with a heavy smoke.

As he pulled into the driveway, he caught a smoky burning scent floating through the air. Smoke escaped as he opened the door to find his beloved Deegan, a 2-year-old American Pitbull, crawling out.

Inside, the home was filled with what DiVirgilio described as a “thick blanket of smoke” by the time he reached the second floor. He called the Fire Department.

His hopes of putting out whatever fire was causing the smoke turned into recovery as he began pulling items from the home out into the yard. A neighbor who noticed the smoke came along to help.

Together they salvaged as much as they could.

Though it only took minutes for fire crews to arrive on scene, DiVirgilio said it felt like a lifetime as he waited, watching the flames tear through his home.

“It was roaring like a freight train,” said DiVirgilio. “I’ll never forget it.”

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Photo courtesy of Jason DiVirgilio
Jason DiVirgilio and his American Pitbull, Deegan.

As crews arrived on scene just before midnight, they immediately got to work, knocking down the fire, which they later determined originated in the chimney.

“It was reassuring to see them come rolling in,” said DiVirgilio of the firefighters. “God bless each and every one of them.”

Though they knocked down the fire fairly quickly, crews remained on scene through the night, extinguishing all hot spots in the building to prevent the fire from rekindling.

The home was destroyed, with significant water damage to the first floor and fire and smoke damage which gutted the second. DiVirgilio lost many personal belongings in the fire, including many items with great sentimental value.

Among them were guns from his grandfather, a baseball card collection with signed Mickey Mantle cards, and a basketball signed by the Harlem Globetrotters from a memorable trip to see the team during his childhood.

He said that while some things can’t be replaced like the double-barrel .410 from his grandfather, others like clothing and household items can.

His friend, Patrick Lavoie, Jr. is hoping to help him with just that.

“I just want to get him back on his feet,” he said.

Lavoie is hosting a benefit for DiVirgilio and Deegan this weekend the Lakeshore Farm Inn in Northwood. He also set up a fund for donations through TD Bank and is accepting donations at his barbershop in Portsmouth.

DiVirgilio said it’s friends like Lavoie and his neighbors that are helping him get through this tough time.

“The outpouring of support has been incredible. It’s blown me away,” he said. In the immediate aftermath, he said neighbors offered him a place to stay and dropped off gift cards to help him get back on his feet.

While dealing with the loss has been a battle for DiVirgilio, he’s just thankful that his most beloved Deegan made it out unharmed.

“He is my best friend,” said DiVirgilio of his dog, who accompanies him just about anywhere he goes. “There is no stronger bond.”

Since the fire, the pair moved across town to the home DiVirgilio grew up in. He has continued to work as a carpenter for Whitcher Builders in Strafford, where he’s been for the past 12 years.

DiVirgilio said he’s confident he and Deegan will move past this in time.

“It is hard to find the words to describe how good it makes me feel knowing that there are so many people that care and want to help,” said DiVirgilio of the support he and Deegan are receiving.

Those wishing to help, can make donations to The DiVirgilio Fire Fund, by mailing checks made out to the Fund to TD Bank, NH1-057-000, P.O. Box 600, Manchester, N.H. 03105. Cash donations can be dropped off at Lavoie’s barbershop, Port City Barbers, located at 621 Islington St. in Portsmouth.

The benefit will be held at the Lakeshore Farm Inn, located at 275 Jenness Pond Road in Northwood, this Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be food galore and a raffle with many items donated by locals and area businesses, including a two-night stay at the Wentworth by the Sea, a painting by local artist Sean Deavers, and a golfing pass for Nippo Lake and Rochester Country Club, among others.

The cover charge is $10 and includes a live classic rock band, the Shifters.